Remote control apparatus for transferring fluids



Sept. 20, 1955 M. c. LEVERETT ETAL 2,718,459

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING FLUIDS Filed Nov. 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l t6. 4 Mamm M Tr m w? I i? r C n E TMMM 5 ur w FJ M wdfiw REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRANSFEIRRING FLUIDS Filed Nov. 22, 1948 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTORS M'les C. Leveretzf BY Frank P. Wqrd & Jordan 7' Wed/s Unite States Patent f REMOTE CONTRUL APPARATUS FOR SFERRHQQ FLUEDS Miles C. Leverett, Houston, Tex., Frank R. Ward, Springfield, Mass., and Jordan '1. Weills, Long Island City, N. Y., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission .Applica tion November 22, 1948, Seriai No. 61,322

7 Claims. (Ci. 23259) .Our .invention relates to remote control apparatus, and more particularly to remote control apparatus for transferring radioactive or other materials including solutions from one reaction vessel to another.

In the process for separating Ba from slugs, irradiated in a pile of the type disclosed in the patent to Fermi et al. #2,708,656, issued May 17, 1955, it is necessary to work with solutions or mixtures which give off radiations harmful to operating personnel. This prevents them from coming into close proximity with such materials or mixtures. Accordingly it is necessa ry to perform the operations of carrying out the processes involved by remote control and behind a radiation shielding barrier such as concrete.

Applicants with a knowledge of these problems in the prior art have for an object of their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus for transferring radioactive or other solutions or mixtures from one reaction chamber to another.

Applicants have as another object of their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus for transferring mixtures or solutions from one container to any one or more of a series of spaced containers particularly when they are positioned along an arc.

Applicants have as another objectof their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus for transferring liquids or other materials from any one or more of a series of containers at one level to one or more containers at a different level.

Applicants have as another object of their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus for removing mixtures solutions, or other materials from any one or more of a series of containers, and an indicator for informing the operator when any particular container lunder consideration has been emptied or is filled.

Applicants have as a further object of their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus for selectin'g any one of a series of containers, and for removing the contents therefrom or for depositing a mixture or solution therein either at the same or different levels.

Applicants have as a further object of their invention the provision of a remote control apparatus employing compressed air or suction for transferring the contents of one or more containers to one or more of a series of other containers.

'Other objects and advantages of our invention Will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of our improved remote control apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of our improved positioning sector taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of another positioning sector taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a further positioning sector taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a' cross sectional view of a still further positioning 2,718,459 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 sector taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a still further positioning sector taken along the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a fragmental view in elevation of a portion of a modified form of our improved remote control apparatus. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the modification of my improved remote control apparatus disclosed in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the modification of my improved remote control apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a fragmental detail of the upper portion of the modification of my improved remote control apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly,

to Fig. 1, showing one preferred embodiment of our invention, 1 designates a rigid hollow shaft member of radiation absorbing material, passing vertically downwardly through a radiation barrier 15 which consists preferably of a concrete floor or wall of about 5 feet thickness.

Disposed within a stepped recess opening through floor 15 are flanged metal cylinders 16, 17 joined to gether axially. Closing the upper end of the upper cylinder is a plate 18. Passing through aligned openings in the cylinders 16, 17 and plate 18 and mounted integrally thereon is a tubular liner 19.

Mounted on and standing upwardly from the concrete floor 15 is a cylindrical support or housing 6 having a closed lower end 20 which is flanged at 2l,and through which flange pass studs 22, 22 into the flange of cylinder 17. The upper end of support 6 terminates in a flange 23 upon which a magazine 13 is mounted. In the bottom of magazine 13 is formed an enlarged opening in which a metal disk 24 is adapted to rotate. On either side of the metal disk 24 and engaging the inner and outer surfaces of the bottom of magazine 13 to provide bearing surfaces, are disks 25, 26 bolted to disk 24 and to each other. Carried by the disks 25 and'24 and fixedly secured to disk 24 is a bearing 44 which serves to journal the upper end of line 1 and may be in such close frictional engagement therewith that it serves to rotate shaft 1 as it rotates, or rotation of shaft 1 with bearing 44 may be attained through appropriate conventional .keying (not shown) between the two, so as to permit relative movement longitudinally while causing the two to move together in rotation. Secured to the lower face of disk 26 is an accurately machined block 27 having a socket therein, for registration with any one of a series of circumferentially spaced openings or for movement in an elongated slot.

formed in one side of easing 6, and for the reception which passes through the slot or one of the openings 29 in support 6. Handle 31) provides a ready means for removing the locking member from the socket in block 27, and upstanding therefrom, is a pointer 31 for indicating'the position of the tube or syphon 3 to be described more in detail hereinafter. The pointer 31, at the various positions of the locking member is adapted to register with certain markings on the outer surface of magazine 13 for accurately indicating the position of the tube 3.

Mounted on the opposite side of casing 6 is a frame 32 having an upper arm joined to'flange 23 and a lower arm joined to the casing. The frame 32 carries an upper extension 33 which contacts the under surface of movable disk 26 and journals the upper end of screw threaded shaft 34 upon which is mounted a gear 35 with 45 gear teeth thereon. The lower end of threaded shaft 34 is journaled in bearing 36 which rests upon and is secured to casing end 20.

Meshed with gear 35 is a pinion 37 rotatably carried by and fixedly secured to shaft 38. Rigidly mounted on the opposite end of shaft 38 which is journaled in frame 32 and which projects out through a cut away portion in support 6 is a handle 39 for rotating the shaft. Disposed about the shaft 34 is an internally screw threaded socket member 40 having threaded engagement with the screw threads on shaft 34. Projecting from said socket member 40 and loosely disposed about shaft 1 is an arm 41. Mounted on the shaft 1, on either side of arm 41 are collars 42, 43. These collars are fixedly secured to the shaft 1 and form a bearing for coaction with arm 41 to raise and lower the shaft.

On the lower end of shaft 1 is mounted a tank or container 2 to which is connected a radioactive solution inlet and outlet tube 3. Passing down substantially concentrically through the shaft 1 is a tube 4 for applying pressure or suction to the tank 2 and hence to the inlet tube 3. The tube 4 terminates in a cylindrical portion 45 of tank 2 in which is disposed a glass wool or other suitable filter 5 to prevent droplets of radioactive solutions from entering the vacuum or pressure line 4. The upper end of line 4 passes out through shaft 1 and terminates in a coil of flexible pressure-vacuum hose which is received in magazine 13 and which permits vertical displacement of shaft 1 without aifecting the operation of this tube. At the point of exit of tube 4 from shaft 1 a pressure or vacuum seal may be formed between the tubing and the shaft, or the tubing 4 may be sealed ofl from the shaft 1 at the cylinder 45.

Disposed within and secured to the inner walls of casing 6 at a plurality of spaced vertical locations are a series of sectors or grooved guide quadrants 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Mounted on the bearing sleeve 44 and adapted to co operate with the grooves in the various sectors is a guide fin 7. The interlock between the guide fin 7, and the various grooves in the guide quadrants selectively positions tube 3 in communication with the funnels or openings of the tanks or containers (not shown) containing the radioactive solutions or mixtures to be transferred or to be employed for the reception of the radioactive solutions or mixtures. The grooved sectors of the preferred form of our invention disclosed in the various figures, that is, Figures 2-6, inclusive were designed for use with a number of tanks whose funnels were disposed about a quadrant of a circle on at least two levels. By changing the positions of the fins or stops and of the slots on these guides, and by changing their spacings relative to each other, it is possible to use this apparatus with funnels and tanks disposed in a variety of positions.

To operate the apparatus, the guide fin 7 is placed in the desired guide quadrant slot corresponding to a particular tank position and shown in Fig. 2 if the funnel is on the upper level or in the desired quadrant slot of the guide of Fig. 5 if the funnel is on the lower level. The fin is then lowered until it engages the discharge stop shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 6, as the case may be. The solution inlet or outlet tube 3 is now in position to remove the radioactive solution from the tank. Vacuum is applied to tank 2 through tube 4 until all of the radioactive solution is siphoned into tank 2. Tube 3 is then positioned into the funnel connected to the tank into which the solution is to be transferred, by means of positioning the guide fin 7 as described above. Air pressure is then applied to tubing 4 to empty tank 2.

Mounted on the shaft 1 above the magazine 13 is a microphone 14 preferably of the contact type, for detecting the sound of rushing air or bubbling of solutions in tank 2. Their noise serves as an indication as to whether the tank is filled or empty, and for this purpose the microphone may be coupled as indicated hereinafter to a conventional electrical circuit including a sound reproducing device.

The tank 2 and shaft 1 are raised and lowered by the action of crank 39, rotation of which turns pinion 37 and in turn small gear 35. Since gear 35 is fixed to the shaft 34, they turn together. Rotation of shaft 34 causes socket member 40 to ride up and down shaft 34 since it is screw threaded thereto. The movement of socket member 40 up and down screw threaded shaft 34 imparts vertical movement to arm 41 which acts against collars 42, 43 to raise and lower shaft 1. This in turn raises and lowers intake or outlet pipe 3 to permit movement from one container to the other as determined by guide sectors 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which coact with fin 7.

To move the intake line 3 about its arcuate path at the same level, shank 28 is removed from socket 27 breaking the interlock between shaft 1 and easing 6. The shaft 1 may then either be rotated manually through microphone 14 or by shaft 1 with the operators hands, or any appropriate mechanical means may be employed for the purpose. It will be understood, of course, that the position of the fin 7 with respect to a particular slot or groove in any one of the guide sectors 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 is indicated by alignment of the socket in block 27 with an opening 29 in casing 6, and this in turn is indicated by the pointer 31 on the scale on the surface of the magazine 13 when the shank 28 carrying the pointer is seated in the socket of the block. This provides an accurate visual marker which unmistakably guides the operator to the proper vessel.

When the free end of pipe 3 extends into a vessel, the solution or mixture may be removed from the vessel by applying vacuum to the upper end of tube 4 in a wellknown manner. This sucks the mixture or solution out of the vessel up into tank 2 since cylinder 45' is in direct communication with tank 2. When it is desired to empty tank 2, pressure may be applied to the upper end of line 4. This forces out the mixture or solution from tank 2.

Microphone 14 at the upper end of shaft 1 may be connected through an appropriate power source or batteries to a loud speaker or head phones, in the usual manner. This will provide audible indication of most sounds. However, appropriate amplifiers may also be inserted in the system if weaker signals are of interest or if greater signal volume is required.

. In the modification of Fig. 7, the part of the system below the radiation barrier is the same as that disclosed in Fig. 1 and together with certain tubes have been omitted. The principal modifications reside in the means for raising and lowering the shaft and in turning the intake or outlet line or rotating it so that the intake or outlet line may be moved from vessel to vessel on the same level.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing 1 designates the vertical shaft, to the lower end of which is secured the reception tank and intake line as indicated in Fig. l. Mounted above the concrete floor 15' is a support 6 of semicircular or channel shape cross section. The upper end of the support terminates in a flat top table. Mounted beneath the table 46', and transversely to the support 6' is a shaft 47' journaled in appropriate bearings 48', 49 carried by the support. On one end of the shaft 47 is fixedly mounted a winch 50' which rotates with the shaft 47'. On the other end of shaft 47 is mounted a pinion 51' which is actuated by worm gear 52' on shaft 54' mounted in bearing 53 on casing 6 beneath pinion 51' and meshed therewith. Handle 55 extends outwardly from shaft 54 and serves to turn it and the worm 52 mounted thereon. The lead on the worm 52' and the pinion 51' issuch that when moved to any particular position, they remain fixed in that position until moved further by the crank 55.

Positioned within the support 6' is a tubular member 56 having a longitudinal slot 57' therein. The tubular member 56 is suspended from a turntable 58' which rests upon the fixed table 46' and is rotatable thereon. The turntable 58 has a sector cut therefrom to permit the rotatable pulley 59' and its mounting or bearing 60 to'project therethrough from fixed table 46 since they are fixedly mounted on the table 46. Projecting upwardly from turntable 58 are handles'61' for turning or rotating table 58'. However, turntable 58' is normally locked against rotation by stop pin 62' which has a reduced shank portion for passing through openings in stationary table 46' and movable table 58 when they are in alignment. For the purpose of locking table 58' in a plurality of different positions with respect to stationary table 46, a series of circumferentially shaped openings may be provided in the movable table 58 to register with the opening in fixed table 46' when the turntable is in diflerent positions.

The shaft 1' is supported by a flexible wire rope such as airplane cable 63 passing through and interlocked with ring 64 which is fastened in the top of shaft 1'. Secured to and projecting radially from shaft 1 is a substantially flat metal bar 65. This metal bar extends out through slot 57' in tubular member 56' serving to interlock shaft 1' with the tubular member 56' so that shaft 1' may slide longitudinally within tubular member 56 but is keyed to it to prevent any substantial relative rotation. The bar 65' serves the further purpose of acting as a mounting for a contact microphone 14' so as to transmit sound waves from shaft 1 to contact microphone 14. It will be understood that the sound waves in question are those due to air bubbling in tank 2 and which are transmitted up along shaft 1.

The flexible wire 63' passes upwardly from shaft 1' through tubular member 56' and turntable 58, over pulley 59', and down through an opening in stationary table 46' and around the winch 50 which has appropriate grooves in its outer surface for receiving and guiding wire 63'. In raising and lowering shaft 1' it will be noted that markers in the form of extensions 66, 67', and 68 from tubular member 56 serve to indicate levels of vessels below barrier 15' when bar 65' is selectively brought into coincidence with them. In its operation, determination is first made of the vessel from which the radioactive mixture or solution is to be extracted or the vessel into which such mixture or solution contained in the movable lower tank is to be discharged. If one of the intermediate levels, such as marker extension 67 would indicate, is selected, crank 55' is turned, winding rope 63 about winch 50' and over pulley 59', this raises shaft 1 until bar 65' coincides with or is slightly above markers 67. This establishes the proper elevation. The pin 62 is removed and turntable 59' is rotated or moved by handles 61' until the opening in the turntable 58' corresponding to the selected vessel, registers with the opening in stationary table 46. They are locked together in this position by insertion of the pin 62' into the registering openings in the two tables. This provides an accurate movement and insures that the feed line from the lower tank registers with the proper funnel or vessel along the desired arc.

ln lowering the shaft 1', the crank 55' is simply ro tated. This rotates winch 50' and pays out the wire rope 63. The weight of the shaft 1' and the weight of the tank pulls the shaft downwardly under the force of gravity as slack develops in the rope, and as it is backed off of the winch.

Appropriate pressure, vacuum and sample pipes (not shown) extend down into the tank below the bearing entering shaft 1' at cap 70' and extend upwardly to and through tables 46, 58' in a manner similar to that heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1. The pipes come out of the shaft 1' and support 56 and pressure or vacuum may be applied thereto to remove the contents of the lower tank or to fill it up as the case may be. Samples may also be inserted or removed through the other tube, or the other tube may be used as an emergency pressurevacuum tube, or for general purposes.

As is frequently the case, a large number of wires or piping are located beneath the barrier 15. In turning the syphon tube, it may come into contact with some of these wires or piping so that they limit the position or positions to which the syphon tube may be turned. Appropriate indications of these positions may be made by additional markers on the tubular support member 56" in order to insure guided travel of the syphon intake or outlet tube.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a radiation resistant barrier, a tubular shaft extending through the barrier and rotatably journaled therein, and means carried by the shaft for selectively communicating with any one of a plurality of containers behind said barrier to provide a passage between the shaft and the containers for the flow of fluid.

2. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a thickened radiation resistant barrier, a hollow shaft passing through the barrier and rotatably journaled therein, a chamber forming housing carried by the shaft and positioned below the barrier, and an extension projecting from the housing and movable therewith for alignment with any one of a plurality of containers below said barrier to provide a passageway for fluid therefrom to said chamber.

3. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a radiation resistant barrier, a tubular shaft passing through the barrier and axially and rotatably mounted therein, an extension carried by the shaft for communication with containers behind said barrier to provide a fluid passage between the shaft and said containers, and means for rotating said shaft to bring the extension into alignment and communication with any one of said containers at a plurality of different levels.

4. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a radiation resistant barrier, a tubular shaft passing through the barrier and rotatably journaled therein, a chamber forming housing mounted on the shaft adjacent one extremity, a tubular extension on the housing to rotate with the shaft and selectively communicate with any one of a series of containers behind said barrier to provide a fluid passageway to the chamber and shaft, and means for applying pressure through said shaft to force fluid from said chamber to the containers.

5. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a thickened radiation resistant barrier, a tubular shaft extending through the barrier and rotatably journaled therein, a chamber forming housing mounted on the shaft adjacent one extremity thereof, an extension on the housing for selective communication with a plurality of containers positioned behind said barrier to provide a fluid passageway to the chamber and shaft, means for rotating the shaft to bring said extension into alignment with any one of said containers, and means for applying a range of pressures to the shaft for causing fluid flow between the chamber and the containers.

6. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a thickened radiation resistant barrier, a hollow shaft passing through the barrier and rotatably and axially movably mounted therein, a chamber forming housing mounted on the shaft adjacent one extremity thereof, an extension mounted on the housing for rotation to communicate with a series of containers positioned behind said barrier and provide a passageway from them to the chamber and shaft, means for moving said shaft to bring the extension into alignment with any one of said containers at a plurality of levels, and means for applying a range of pressures to the shaft to force liquid flow between the containers and the chamber.

7. A fluid remote control system of the character described comprising a radiation resistant barrier, a tubular shaft passing through the barrier and rotatably journaled therein, an extension rotatably carried by the shaft for selectively communicating with a plurality of containers located behind said barrier to provide a fluid passageway to the shaft, means for rotating the shaft to bring the extension into alignment with any one of said containers,

and means eggageable with the shaft for locking it in each-selected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Takaki Feb. 20, 1906 Fitzsimmons Sept. 15, 1908 Honorof Aug. 26, 1913 Gottlieb Oct. 24, 1922 10 Leach Oct. 29, 1929 8 Mallinckrodt Oct. 20, 1931 Ayars Oct. 18, 1932 Kjntzele Nov. 30, 1937 Davis 2 Nov. 8, 1938 Demers Dec. 6, 1938 Parsons Sept. 24, 1940 Kaiser June 9, 1942 Nier et a1 Oct. 24, 1950 

1. A FLUID REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A RADIATION RESISTANT BARRIER, A TUBULAR SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH THE BARRIER AND ROTATABLY JOURNALED THEREIN, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE SHAFT FOR SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS BEHIND SAID BARRIER TO PROVIDE A PASSAGE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE CONTAINERS FOR THE FLOW OF FLUID. 